What Were Edgar Allen Poe's Achievements?

Among Edgar Allen Poe's achievements, his contributions to the science fiction genre and invention of the modern detective genre are commonly thought of as the greatest. He is often referred to as the "Father of the Detective Story." He is also credited for his contributions to literary theory, having published a number of essays, including "The Philosophy of Composition" and "The Rationale of Verse."

The details of Poe's life have been obscured by misinformation and at times blurred with his fiction. However, his personal achievements in overcoming poverty and other bleak circumstances is well-documented. From his early teens, Poe had aspirations to become a writer, a career path which his foster father and headmaster actively tried to obstruct. Despite his wealthy foster father providing insufficient money for him to complete his university studies, Poe published his first book, "Tamerlane and Other Poems," at the age of 18. His poverty was ongoing, but this did not prevent Poe from publishing further works and embarking on a career as a magazine writer.

It was the publication of "The Raven" in 1845 that secured Poe's fame and popularity that he retains today.

His greatest success came after his death, largely as a result of an insulting obituary written by a rival, which increased the sales of Poe's books.